Attitude magazine grows up
Gay magazine Attitude is celebrating its 200th issue with a revamp.
The new style will include a more “grown-up” section with relationship advice, real life stories and gay fiction.
Editor Matthew Todd said the new issue, out now, would shatter the myth that gay publications can’t be intelligent.
He said: “I particularly want to appeal to people who make generalised assumptions that gay publications have no brains. I aim to make attitude reflect a varied mix of what people want – in the last year we’ve featured cover interviews with David Cameron, Stephen Fry, Gareth Thomas and now Ricky Martin amongst many others.
“We have a more grown up section with relationship advice from some of the leading gay therapists in the world Joe Kort and Alan Downs (author of The Velvet Rage), a monthly column from Johann Hari, real life stories of gay men who aren’t just media stars, celebrities or muscle marys.”
PinkNews.co.uk founder and publisher Benjamin Cohen is to write a new technology column.
Mr Todd said that the new fiction section would be edited by Rupert Smith, Stonewall’s Writer of the Year.
Authors already lined up to write for the magazine include Jonathan Harvey, Paul Burston, David Hoyle, Neil Bartlett, Stella Duffy and Julian Clary.
Mr Smith said that the stories would be about “contemporary life with a strong gay interest”.
“Some will be funny, others will be dark,” he said. “I’m hoping to use a very broad range of writers – young and old, male and female, British and foreign, literary and genre.
“The one thing they’ll all have in common is they’ll be a good strong entertaining read, I’ve got no time for pretentious arty drivel because that usually means the writer doesn’t know what he or she is trying to say.
Another change will see more “affordable” fashion features.
Mr Todd said: “Attitude has always been ahead of the pack and with this new look I’m hoping to redefine what gay magazines can be.”